Competition Theme for 2026
Student teams are tasked with selecting a specific example or application of AI related to food safety, food quality, product development, sustainability, or consumer research to highlight through their abstract and video submission.
Teams should aim to showcase how AI innovations are shaping the future of food—from predictive analytics and process optimization to sensory evaluation, ingredient discovery, or food fraud detection.
Competition Details
Teams of up to four students are invited to submit an abstract outlining the AI topic or case study they plan to feature. Selected teams will advance to create a dynamic 5-minute video for a chance to win one of three cash prizes.
With the team’s permission, all video submissions will be showcased on the EEOD’s LinkedIn page, providing a platform for your work to educate and inspire a wide audience.
Why Enter?
- Engage in food science innovation: Explore how cutting-edge AI tools are advancing food research and industry practices.
- Bridge science and communication: Translate complex technological concepts into engaging, educational content for a broad audience.
- Inspire future leaders: Help promote the EEOD and encourage interest in the evolving intersection of AI and food science.
- Showcase your work: Your video could become part of an online library of resources highlighting the role of technology in advancing food science.
Awards
Up to 3 awards will be presented:
- First Place: $1000 per team
- Second Place: $750 per team
- Third Place: $500 per team
Eligibility
- All participants must be IFT student members prior to submitting their team’s abstract
- Individuals or teams of up to 4 members
- Multiple teams from the same university permitted
- Teams may be undergraduate students, graduate students, or both together
- Students must be enrolled in a food science or related program
2026 Competition Submission Timeline
- Preliminary abstract submission deadline: Monday, February 16, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CT
- Final video submission deadline: Monday, May 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CT
Submit Your Team Roster and Abstract
Rules, Guidelines & Evaluation
Contact
Please reach out to Competition Chair Patricia Hingston if you have any questions about the competition. Please reach out to Sydnie Nugent regarding submission form process.